Method and system for carpet-odor treatment

ABSTRACT

The present invention provides a method and system for treating carpet that includes a hollow tube having a first end and a second end, wherein the tube further includes: a plurality of injection holes located near the second end of the tube, a pointed tip located at the second end of the tube, and a lug moveably attached to the tube; the method including inserting the tube into a carpet by penetrating the pointed tip into the carpet; lifting the tube up via the lug such that a portion of the carpet is pulled away from padding located underneath the carpet; and inserting fluid into the tube at the first end of the tube such that the fluid is injected into the carpet via the injection holes.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No.14/340,419 filed Jul. 24, 2014 by Jerome P. Behr, titled “System andmethod for carpet-odor treatment” (which issues as U.S. Pat. No.9,517,285 on Dec. 13, 2016), which claims priority benefit under 35U.S.C. §119(e) of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/858,108filed Jul. 24, 2013 by Jerome P. Behr, titled “System and method forcarpet-odor treatment,” and of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No.61/873,350 filed Sep. 3, 2013 by Jerome P. Behr, titled “Method andsystem for carpet-odor treatment,” each of which is incorporated hereinby reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to fluid-delivery systems, and moreparticularly to devices and methods for treating carpet odors bydelivering an anti-odor liquid underneath a carpet.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Carpet odors (e.g., an odor associated with a pet that has urinated onthe carpet) are often caused by an odorous liquid that has soakedthrough the carpet and down into the padding located directly below thecarpet. Accordingly, a standard method for treating carpet odors is toinject an odor-neutralizing fluid into the carpet at the source of theodorous liquid using a hypodermic needle. This method limits thecoverage area of the injected fluid to the small area immediatelysurrounding the needle tip. Hypodermic-needle methods also make itdifficult to direct the odor-neutralizing fluid to the carpet paddingbecause it can be hard to judge the carpet thickness and the penetrationdepth of the hypodermic needle when inserting the hypodermic needle intothe carpet.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,109,340 to Leonard Eugene Bates (hereinafter, “Bates”),titled “Truck mounted carpet cleaning machine,” issued Aug. 29, 1978,and is incorporated herein by reference. Bates describes a carpetcleaning machine mounted on a truck or van for transport to the worksite. The main power for the machine is developed by an internalcombustion engine which drives an injection pump, a vacuum pump, and asump pump. A reservoir maintains and stores a supply of coolingwater-cleaning fluid for removing heat generated by the engine.Coolant-cleaning fluid is drawn from the engine by the injection pumpfor transmission to the carpet cleaning injection nozzles. The coolantmay be further heated as it is drawn from the engine by means of a heatexchanger which removes heat from the engine exhaust gases. The coolantmay be further heated by deliberately employing an inefficient injectionpump. The vacuum pump draws water from the carpet through a filter orsump which may be discharged through the sump pump when a predeterminedcoolant level is achieved in the sump. Make-up water may be delivered tothe reservoir by a float-actuated valve which directs the make-up waterthrough a venturi operative to inject a cleaning agent or solvent intothe water. When the machine is not actually in carpet cleaning use, atemperature actuated valve may deliver coolant from the reservoirdirectly to the sump pump for discharge, thus preventing overheating ofthe engine.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,336,627 to Lionel D. Bascus (hereinafter, “Bascus”),titled “Water conditioning systems,” issued Jun. 29, 1982, and isincorporated herein by reference. Bascus describes a system forconditioning and dispersing wash water which is particularly suited formobile carpet cleaning. The system comprises a liquid cooled internalcombustion engine operating a high pressure pump, a water supply tankfeeding water to the high pressure pump, a pulse pump for injectingchemicals into the water, an immersion heat exchanger downstream of thehigh pressure pump and a tool, which can be in the form of a cleaningwand when used for carpet cleaning, from which the chemically treatedand heated water is dispersed onto a surface to be cleaned.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,949,424 to William Shero (hereinafter, “Shero”), titled“Carpet cleaning system,” issued Aug. 21, 1990, and is incorporatedherein by reference. Shero describes an apparatus that consists of aninternal combustion engine, the exhaust of which is directed through atleast one heat exchanger for heating water/chemical cleaning fluidsolution. A source of incoming water passes by a regulator into theinlet end of an engine driven pump, then through a balance pressureregulator valve positioned between the pump and the heat exchanger. Abypass valve intercepts a portion of the heated water after it passes bya thermostat downstream of the heat exchanger and directs this portionof heated water into a conduit leading back to the pump inlet therebypreheating the incoming water. A vacuum pump coupled to the engine drawsa vacuum in a separate waste water recovery tank. A hand held carpetcleaner wand injects heated water transported under pressure through aflexible hose through an exhaust nozzle into the surface being cleaned.A vacuum intake port adjacent the exhaust nozzle of the wand vacuums upthe residual fluid and directs the fluid back to the recovery tankthrough another flexible hose. The constantly circulating heated bypasswater reduces stagnation of water in the heat exchanger when the wand isdeactivated thereby effectively preventing a complete shut down of thesystem due to overheated water sensed by the thermostat in the heatexchanger.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,048,148 to Robert Gleadall (hereinafter, “Gleadall”),titled “Carpet cleaning apparatus,” issued Sep. 17, 1991, and isincorporated herein by reference. Gleadall describes a carpet cleaningapparatus consisting of a housing having a lower surface and an interiorcavity. Wheels are secured adjacent to the lower surface of the housing.A conduit is secured to the housing. The conduit has a first end wherebythe conduit may be coupled to a water supply and a second end with sprayjets whereby fluids may be injected into a carpet. A discharge tank issecured within the interior cavity of the housing. The discharge tankhas two suction ports, and two fluid inlets. Two suction conduits areprovided. Each suction conduit has a first end communicating with one ofthe fluid inlets of the discharge tank and a second end disposedadjacent the lower surface of the housing. Two suction motors aresecured in the interior cavity of the housing, each of the suctionmotors communicating with one of the suction inlets of the dischargetank such that a vacuum is created within the discharge tank and thesuction conduits. Discharge fluids are drawn from the surface of acarpet via the suction conduits into the fluid inlets of the dischargetank.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,014,790 to David A. Smith et al. (hereinafter, “Smith etal.”), titled “Ductwork cleaning system,” issued Jan. 18, 2000, and isincorporated herein by reference. Smith et al. describe a system forcleaning building ductwork utilizing the equipment generally used toclean carpets. The system utilizes the vacuum unit and liquid waste tankfrom a carpet cleaning system. A flexible hose runs between the wastetank and the building ductwork. A water injection system is connected tothe hose and is used to spray a stream of water into the air flowingthrough the flexible ductwork which will entrap any particles containedtherein. The “dirty” water flowing out of the hose will flow to thewaste tank for collection and disposal.

U.S. Patent Application Publication 2008/0256745 to Nicola Santoemma etal. (hereinafter, “Santoemma et al.”), titled “Moquette carpet cleaningmachine operable in pull-back mode,” published Oct. 23, 2008, and isincorporated herein by reference. Santoemma et al. describe a moquettecarpet cleaning machine (10) operable in pull-back mode comprising amachine body (11) provided with main rear wheels (12) and a suctionmouth (14) placed at the front and is characterised in that supportmeans (19) are constrained to the machine (10), on which support means(19) at least one auxiliary wheel (16) is mounted, and in that at leastone from among the main wheels (12), suction mouth (14), the at leastone auxiliary wheel (16) and support means (19) are movable means withrespect to the machine body (11), between at least a first (A) and atleast a second (B) relative position such that, when the movable means(12,14,19,16) are in the first relative position (A), the suction mouth(14) is maintained adherent to the ground (20), and when the movablemeans (12,14,19,16) are in the second relative position (B), the suctionmouth (14) is maintained substantially raised from the ground (20).

U.S. Patent Application Publication 2010/0000043 to Don M. McNulty(hereinafter, “McNulty”), titled “Carpet cleaning fluid injectionapparatus,” published Jan. 7, 2010, and is incorporated herein byreference. McNulty describes a carpet cleaning fluid injection apparatusfor adaptation to a vacuum nozzle. The injection apparatus configured tosurround the vacuum nozzle for purposes of injecting the cleaning fluidinto the carpet in proximity to the vacuum nozzle and the vacuum nozzleconfigured for extracting the cleaning fluid from the carpet.

PCT Application PCT/DK94/00390 (published as WO 95/10972 A1) to JörgrenSjögreen (hereinafter, “Sjögreen”), titled “Universal vacuum cleaner,”published Apr. 27, 1995, and is incorporated herein by reference.Sjögreen describes a universal vacuum cleaner, which without disassemblyor exchange of parts, free of choice can be used for dry vacuumcleaning, wet vacuum cleaning, carpet cleaning, floor wash and to suckup water from kitchen sinks and the like. The universal vacuum cleanerworks by injecting water, to which may be added a detergent, in thesucked in air stream through a system of nozzles (21 and 22), afterwhich foreign matters are wetted by water and detergents. The coarseforeign matters are picked up in a detachable pick up tray (7) includinga coarse filter (8), from which the liquid is drained to the belowplaced detachable liquid container (4). The smaller foreign matters andthe water are separated from the air in a cyclone (15), accumulated in aliquid pump (16), which pumps the water and foreign matters return tothe liquid container (4), whereas the dry and dust free air escapesthrough the opening (24) in the top of the cyclone (15). The detergentrecirculates constant by the liquid pump (17). The liquid container (4),containing the dirty water, is taken out and emptied in a sink, when thevacuum cleaning is finished, washed out and refilled with clean water atnext vacuum cleaning.

European Patent Application Publication EP 1 106 566 A1 to the Proctor &Gamble Company (hereinafter, “Proctor & Gamble”), titled “Containerconnector with piercing means,” published Jun. 13, 2001, and isincorporated herein by reference. Proctor & Gamble describe a reservoirfor use with a dispensing appliance for spraying a liquid is provided,wherein the dispensing appliance comprises a protecting plate and atleast two needles for engaging the reservoir. The protecting plate has alocked position and an unlocked position, wherein the protecting plateis movable in the unlocked position to expose the needles and isimmovable in the locked position. The reservoir comprises a finish withan opening which communicates with the interior of the reservoir and amembrane disposed across the opening, wherein the membrane has anexposed length of less than about 45 mm.

There is a need for an improved system and method for treating carpetodors.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In some embodiments, the present invention provides a carpet-treatmentdevice having a fluid-receiving first end and a carpet-piercing pointedsecond end. The device also includes an impact- or force-receptionfeature configured to receive force (e.g., hammer blows or pressure fromthe heel of the hand of the human user) and to deliver that force towardthe pointed second end in order to pierce carpet and carpet backing. Thedevice also includes a plurality of injection perforations (e.g., holesor other fluid-permeable passageways) located near the second end of thetube. The pointed tip (the carpet-piercing pointed end) is at the secondend of the tube, and a fluid-receiving feature (e.g., a cone orfunnel-shaped end configured to receive the tip of a fluid squeezebottle and configured to convey the fluid is located at the first end ofthe tube. A lifting feature attached to the tube provides a grip bywhich the user can lift the carpet and its backing so that the fluid issprayed from the injection perforations onto the underside of the carpetand carpet backing that is being held above the pointed second end, andthe fluid also sprays onto the carpet pad underneath the pointed secondend.

In some embodiments, the present invention provides a carpet-treatmentdevice that includes a hollow tube having a first end and a second end;a plurality of injection holes located near the second end of the tube;a pointed tip located at the second end of the tube; and a lug moveablyattached to the tube and configured to increase the graspable diameterof the tube (to make it easier to grab and pull up on the tube).

In some embodiments, the present invention provides a method fortreating carpet that includes providing a hollow tube having a first endand a second end, wherein the tube further includes: a plurality ofinjection holes located near the second end of the tube, a pointed tiplocated at the second end of the tube, and a lug moveably attached tothe tube; the method further including inserting the tube into a carpetby penetrating the pointed tip into the carpet; lifting the tube up viathe lug such that a portion of the carpet is pulled away from paddinglocated underneath the carpet; and inserting fluid into the tube at thefirst end of the tube such that the fluid is injected into the carpetvia the injection holes at the second end of the tube.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1A is a side-view drawing of a carpet-odor-treatment device 100.

FIG. 1B is a side-view drawing of a carpet-odor-treatment device 102 insix different positions for carpet treatments relative to a carpet 99shown in cross section.

FIG. 1C is a side-view drawing of a carpet-odor-treatment device 103 infour different positions for carpet treatments relative to a carpet 99shown in cross section.

FIG. 1D is a perspective-view drawing of a carpet-odor-treatment device104 for carpet treatments of a carpet 99.

FIG. 1E is a side-view drawing of a carpet-odor-treatment device 105 infive different positions for carpet treatments relative to a carpet 99shown in cross section.

FIG. 1F is a side-view drawing of a carpet-odor-treatment device 106 inthree different positions for carpet treatments relative to a carpet 99shown in cross section.

FIG. 2A1 is a side-view diagram of a carpet-odor-treatment system 201that includes carpet-odor treatment device 211 anddeodorizer-fluid-dispensing squeeze bottle 109.

FIG. 2A2 is a top-view diagram of carpet-odor-treatment device 211.

FIG. 2A3 is a front-view diagram of carpet-odor-treatment device 211.

FIG. 2B1 is a side-view diagram of a carpet-odor-treatment device 212.

FIG. 2B2 is a top-view diagram of carpet-odor-treatment device 212.

FIG. 2B3 is a front-view diagram of carpet-odor-treatment device 212.

FIG. 2C1 is a side-view diagram of a carpet-odor-treatment system 206that includes carpet-odor treatment device 216 anddeodorizer-fluid-dispensing squeeze bottle 109.

FIG. 2C2 is a top-view diagram of carpet-odor-treatment device 216.

FIG. 2C3 is a front-view diagram of carpet-odor-treatment device 216.

FIG. 2C4 is a side-view diagram of a carpet-odor-treatment devicecombination funnel-shaped-fluid-receiving, force-delivery and liftingelement 233.

FIG. 3 is a perspective side-view diagram of a cylindricalcarpet-odor-treatment device combination force-delivery and liftingelement 232.

FIG. 4 is a side-view diagram of a cylindrical carpet-odor-treatmentdevice combination force-delivery and lifting element 233.

FIG. 5 is a top-view diagram of a cylindrical carpet-odor-treatmentdevice combination force-delivery and lifting element 233.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a method for using device 100 to treat acarpet with an odor-neutralizing fluid.

FIG. 7A is a side-view photograph of an open-ended steel tube 751 beforefurther processing according to some embodiments of the presentinvention.

FIG. 7B is a side-view photograph of an open-ended steel tube 752 aftera flare has been formed at the right-hand end.

FIG. 7C is an end-view photograph of a wooden ball 753 having athrough-hole.

FIG. 7D is an end-view photograph of open-ended steel tube 754 after aflare has been formed at the right-hand end, a wooden ball 753 having athrough-hole fitted over the tube 754, and a rounded bend of about 90degrees formed near the left-hand end.

FIG. 7E is an end-perspective-view drawing of the left-hand end of steeltube 754.

FIG. 7F is an end-perspective-view drawing of the left-hand end of steeltube 755 after being partially flattened with a taper.

FIG. 7G is an end-perspective-view drawing of the left-hand end of steeltube 756 after being partially flattened with a taper, and then groundor sanded to a point, which results in two angled openings 119 that emitfluid at about a 30-degree angle to one another forward and to the sideof pointed tip 115.

FIG. 7H is an end-perspective-view drawing of the left-hand end of steeltube 757 after being partially flattened with a taper, then ground orsanded to a point, and two transverse drill holes 110 drilled throughthe top and bottom walls, and through the left- and right-hand walls(forming four side-wall holes 110 in addition to the two end holes 119).

FIG. 7I1 is a side-perspective-view drawing of the injection end ofcompleted steel-tube carpet-odor-treatment device 706 after beingpartially flattened with a taper, and then ground or sanded to a point,which results in two angled openings 119 that emit fluid at about a30-degree angle to one another forward and to the side of pointed tip115 and four side-wall holes 110 (pointing up, down, left and right)with wooden ball 753 positioned to apply force in a left-to-right-handdirection to insert tip through the carpet.

FIG. 7I2 is a side-perspective-view drawing of the injection end ofcompleted steel tube carpet-odor-treatment device 706 with wooden ball753 positioned to apply lifting force in an upward direction to raisethe carpet so fluid can be dispensed below the carpet.

FIG. 7I3 is an enlarged side-perspective-view drawing of the injectionend of completed steel tube carpet-odor-treatment device 706 showing oneof two angled openings 119 and two of the four side-wall holes 110(pointing up and left).

FIG. 7J is a photograph of the injection end of completed steel-tubecarpet-odor-treatment device 706 showing the six streams of fluid—twosquirting out at about a 30-degree angle to one another forward from thetip and four side streams (pointing up, down, left and right).

FIG. 8A is a drawing of a first operation 800A of a method 800 accordingto some embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 8B is a drawing of a second operation 800B of method 800 accordingto some embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 8C is a drawing of a third operation 800C of method 800 accordingto some embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 8D is a drawing of a fourth operation 800D of method 800 accordingto some embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 8E is a drawing of a fifth operation 800E of method 800 accordingto some embodiments of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Although the following detailed description contains many specifics forthe purpose of illustration, a person of ordinary skill in the art willappreciate that many variations and alterations to the following detailsare within the scope of the invention. Accordingly, the followingpreferred embodiments of the invention are set forth without any loss ofgenerality to, and without imposing limitations upon the claimedinvention. Further, in the following detailed description of thepreferred embodiments, reference is made to the accompanying drawingsthat form a part hereof, and in which are shown by way of illustrationspecific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. It isunderstood that other embodiments may be utilized and structural changesmay be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

The leading digit(s) of reference numbers appearing in the Figuresgenerally corresponds to the Figure number in which that component isfirst introduced, such that the same reference number is used throughoutto refer to an identical component which appears in multiple Figures.Signals and connections may be referred to by the same reference numberor label, and the actual meaning will be clear from its use in thecontext of the description.

FIG. 1A is a side-view drawing of a carpet-odor-treatment device 100,according to some embodiments of the invention. The thumb and fingers ofa user 90 are shown holding device 100. In some embodiments, device 100is used to treat an odor of a carpet (e.g., by squirting anti-odorliquid, from below the carpet, into/onto the carpet, backing, pad,and/or floor). In some embodiments, device 100 is configured to providean injection apparatus for injecting an odor-neutralizing and/orstain-removing fluid into a carpet (e.g., in some embodiments, device100 is configured to inject the fluid into the space between the bottomsurface of the carpet and the padding layer located directly below thecarpet). In some embodiments, device 100 is configured to inject anodor-neutralizing fluid into a flooring material other than carpet. Insome embodiments, device 100 is configured to inject anodor-neutralizing fluid into a suitable non-flooring material such asupholstery or the like. In some embodiments, device 100 is configured toinject an odor-neutralizing and/or stain-removing fluid such asurineOFF® (www.urineoff.com), Nature's Miracle Pet Stain & Odor Remover(www.natures-miracle.com/products/pet-odor-stain-removers/original-pet-stain-odor-remover.aspx),or the like. In some embodiments, device 100 is configured to injectfluid other than odor-neutralizing and/or stain-removing fluid (e.g., astiffening polymer such as Golden-GAC 400 Acrylic Polymer(http://store.academyart.edu/paints-mediums/acrylic-painting-mediums/gac-400-acrylic-polymer-for-stiffening-fabrics.html)).In some embodiments, device 100 includes a hollow tube 135 that isapproximately “L”-shaped. In other embodiments, tube 135 is any othersuitable shape such that device 100 can be easily inserted into carpet.In some embodiments, device 100 includes a pointed penetration tip 115at a first end of device 100 and a lip 106 at an opposite second end ofdevice 100 distal from tip 115.

In some embodiments, device 100 includes a plurality of injection holes110 located near the first end of device 100 and configured to provideexit ports for fluid that is inserted into device 100 at the second endof device 100. In some embodiments, injection holes 110 are positionedin a plurality of radial directions around tube 135 such that fluidinserted into device 100 exits device 100 in a plurality of radialdirections. In some embodiments, injection holes 110 are positioned inany other suitable manner on tube 135. In some embodiments, device 100is configured to provide a coverage area for the injected fluid of about6 square inches, about 6.5 square inches, about 7 square inches, about7.5 square inches, about 8 square inches, about 8.5 square inches, about9 square inches, or, in some embodiments a coverage area that rangesbetween any two of the values listed above.

In some embodiments such as shown in FIG. 1A, device 100 includes aspherical lug 120 (in some embodiments, lug 120 has a suitable shape toprovide its two functions—namely pushing tip 115 through carpet 99, andlifting the carpet to provide plenty of space beneath the carpet orbetween the carpet and its pad underneath it; in some other embodiments,a cylindrical shape (e.g., lug 121 of FIG. 1B or 120 of FIG. 1C)provides a relatively flat surface (the flat end of the cylindrical lug120 of FIG. 1C, which is hammered on) that can be positionedperpendicular to shaft 135, and parallel to the axis of the bottom end111 of tube 135 to apply force along the longitudinal axis of end 111(see FIG. 1C), and a rounded grasping surface to hold while lifting thecarpet; in other embodiments, any other suitable shape can be used). Insome embodiments, lug 120 is cylindrically shaped and has a hollow innerportion configured to fit around tube 135 such that lug 120 can be slidup and down tube 135. In some embodiments, lug 120 has any othersuitable shape. In some embodiments, lug 120 is configured to provide ahandle or grip for device 100 such that device 100 can be lifted upduring the injection of an odor-neutralizing fluid into carpet (in someembodiments, the lifting of device 100 during fluid injection pulls thecarpet up and away from the carpet padding near the area of insertion ofdevice 100 such that a “dome” of carpet is pulled away from the carpetpadding to allow increased coverage area for the injected fluid). Insome embodiments, in order to lift device 100 using lug 120, lug 120 ispulled to the second end of device 100 until it reaches lip 106, whichprevents it from being pulled completely off of device 100. In someembodiments, lug 120 is further configured to provide a surface areathat can be used to hammer or otherwise force device 100 into thecarpet. In some embodiments, lug 120 is fixedly attached to device 100and lip 106 is removed (e.g., in some embodiments, lug 120 is welded totube 135).

In some embodiments, tube 135 is made from a single piece of materialand is bent into the approximate “L” shape. In other embodiments, tube135 is made from two or more pieces that are welded together (e.g., insome such embodiments, tube 135 includes a first piece that contains lip106, a second piece that is welded to the first piece such that thefirst and second piece share the same longitudinal axis, and a thirdpiece that includes injection holes 110 and tip 115 and is welded to thesecond piece such that the longitudinal axis of the third piece isperpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the first and second pieces(in some such embodiments tip 115 is itself welded to the end of thethird piece)).

FIG. 1B is a side-view drawing of a carpet-odor-treatment device 102 insix different positions for carpet treatments relative to a carpet 99shown in cross section. At position 102A, device 102 is pushed orhammered downward at a non-perpendicular angle to carpet 99 to force asmall hole through the backing 98 via pointed tip 115. In thisembodiment, two lugs 120 (separately referred to as lug 121 and lug 122)are provided, and lug 121 is affixed to the bottom end of tube 135 andused as a hammer target to receive blows from a hammer or similar tool,or from the hand of the user 90, while lug 122 is affixed to the top endof tube 135 and used as a lifting element. At position 102B (which isidentical to position 102C), device 102 has been inserted so end 111 isbelow carpet 99. At position 102D, the user 90 of device 102 has liftedcarpet 99 inserted fluid from bottle 109 can be forced into funnelshaped opening 106, through tube 135 and out from holes 110 thusdispensing the fluid to the bottom of carpet 99 and to the top surfaceof any pad beneath carpet 99. At position 102E, the user 90 of device102 has rotated device 102 to a position about 90 degrees from position102D to dispense fluid at that area. The user can then continue torotate device 102 to successive positions around the initial holethrough which point 115 was forced, thus applying the deodorizing fluidto a large under-carpet area. Device 102 is then removed and the carpetwill lie down to its original position. If an even larger area is to betreated, the device 102 can be inserted through the carpet in nearbypositions.

FIG. 1C is a side-view drawing of a carpet-odor treatment device 103 infour different positions for carpet treatments relative to a carpet 99shown in cross section. At position 103A, device 103 is pushed orhammered downward at a non-perpendicular angle to carpet 99 to force asmall hole through the backing 98 via pointed tip 115. In thisembodiment, a single slidable lug 120 is provided, and lug 120 is slidto the bottom end of tube 135 and used as a hammer target to receiveblows from a hammer or similar tool, or from the hand of the user 90.Then, lug 120 is slid to the top end of tube 135 and used as a liftingelement. At position 103B device 103 has been inserted so end 111 isbelow carpet 99. At position 103C, the user 90 of device 103 has slidlug 120 to the top end of tube 135. At position 103D, the user 90 ofdevice 103 has lifted carpet 99, and inserted fluid from bottle 109 canbe forced into funnel-shaped opening 116, through tube 135 and out fromholes 110 thus dispensing the fluid to the bottom of carpet 99 and tothe top surface of any pad beneath carpet 99. The user 90 of device 103can then rotate device 103 to other positions (e.g., successively about90 degrees from position 102D) to dispense fluid at those areas. Device103 is then removed and the carpet will lie down to its originalposition. If an even larger area is to be treated, the device 103 can beinserted through the carpet in nearby positions.

FIG. 1D is a perspective-view drawing of a carpet-odor-treatment device104 for carpet treatments of a carpet 99. In some embodiments, device104 includes a handle 125 attached to a short shaft 126, which in turnis attached near the bottom of tube 135, in order to provide aneasy-to-use handle to force tip 115 through the carpet 99. Other aspectsof this figure are the same as described above for FIG. 1B.

FIG. 1E is a side-view drawing of a carpet-odor-treatment device 105 infive different positions for carpet treatments relative to a carpet 99shown in cross section. In some embodiments, a single handle 127provides both the insertion (providing a hand grip for forcing the tip115 through the carpet) and the lifting functions (providing a hand gripfor lifting lower end 111 and 115 to lift the carpet), and thelongitudinal axis of handle 127 will be approximately perpendicular tothe plane of the floor when lifting the carpet. Position 105A is a topview of device 105, while positions 105B, 105C, 105D, and 105Ecorrespond to positions 102A, 102B, 102D, and 102E, respectively,described above for FIG. 1B.

FIG. 1F is a side-view drawing of a carpet-odor-treatment device 106 inthree different positions for carpet treatments relative to a carpet 99shown in cross section. Device 106 is similar to device 105 and isoperated in a similar manner, except that handle 128 is arranged at a90-degree angle (as compared to handle 127), and its longitudinal axiswill be approximately parallel to the plane of the floor when liftingthe carpet.

FIG. 2A1 is a side-view diagram of a carpet-odor-treatment system 201that includes carpet-odor treatment device 211 anddeodorizer-fluid-dispensing squeeze bottle 109. In some embodiments,device 211 has two lugs—one affixed at the bottom for inserting thepointed tip through the carpet and another affixed at the top forlifting the carpet, substantially as described above for FIG. 1B.

FIG. 2A2 is a top-view diagram of carpet-odor-treatment device 211.

FIG. 2A3 is a front-view diagram of carpet-odor-treatment device 211.

FIG. 2B1 is a side-view schematic diagram of a carpet-odor-treatmentdevice 212. In some embodiments, device 212 has a single slidable lugthat can be moved and used at one of two positions—one at the bottom forinserting the pointed tip through the carpet and another affixed at thetop for lifting the carpet, substantially as described above for FIG.1C. Note that flared end 233 serves as a stop to keep lug 222 fromcoming off when lifting the carpet, as well as a funnel for receivingfluid from squeeze bottle 109 (see FIG. 2A1).

In some embodiments, device 212 is substantially similar to device 100described for FIG. 1A. In some embodiments, tube 135 and lug 222 aremade from a material that includes stainless steel. In some embodiments,tube 135 and lug 222 are made from any other suitable material (e.g., apolymer material such as polyvinyl chloride (PVC)). In some embodiments,penetration tip 115 is made from a material that includes brass. In someembodiments, tip 115 is made from any other suitable material. In someembodiments, tip 115 is made by taper-flattening the end of steel tube135 and grinding it to a point. In some embodiments, device 212 has thedimensions shown in FIG. 2B1. (In FIG. 2B1, “R” designates radius.) Inother embodiments, device 212 has any other suitable dimensions. In someembodiments, substantially the dimensions and materials shown in FIG.2B1 are used for each of the devices described herein.

In some embodiments, device 212 is referred to as “the Injectinator™”.In some embodiments, device 212 increases the effectiveness ofodor-neutralizer application by 80%. In some embodiments, device 212 isconfigured to last over hundreds of applications (in some embodiments,over thousands of applications). In some embodiments, device 212 isconfigured to inject odor-neutralizing fluid from a 4-ounce applicatorbottle. In some embodiments, device 212 is configured to injectodor-neutralizing fluid from any other suitable-sized applicator bottle.In some embodiments, device 212 is configured to target pet odor at thesource of the odor.

FIG. 2B2 is a top-view diagram of carpet-odor-treatment device 212.

FIG. 2B3 is a front-view diagram of carpet-odor-treatment device 212.

FIG. 2C1 is a side-view diagram of a carpet-odor-treatment system 206that includes carpet-odor-treatment device 216 anddeodorizer-fluid-dispensing squeeze bottle 109. Device 216 is similar todevice 212 in FIG. 2B2 and device 103 of FIG. 1C, except that lug 242has three functions—namely the tip-forcing function and lifting functionof lug 120 of FIG. 1C and lug 222 of FIG. 2B2, plus the additionalfunction of serving as a funnel (via tapered (e.g., in some embodiments,cone-shaped) end opening 243) that directs fluid into small flared end236 (which is smaller than, and thus less expensive to form than, flaredend 223 of FIG. 2A1), wherein small flared end 236 is large enough toserve as a stop to keep lug 233 from separating from the device. Thus,the flared end of tube 235 and the funnel-shaped end of lug 242 acttogether to receive fluid and provide a substantially sealed connectionso fluid does not leak at the top of device 216.

FIG. 2C2 is a top-view diagram of carpet-odor-treatment device 216.

FIG. 2C3 is a front-view diagram of carpet-odor-treatment device 216.

FIG. 2C4 is a side-view diagram of a carpet-odor-treatment devicecombination funnel-shaped-fluid-receiving, force-delivery and liftingelement 242.

FIG. 3 is a perspective side-view diagram of a cylindricalcarpet-odor-treatment device combination force-delivery and liftingelement 232, wherein its through-hole 238, through which the tube 135 isarranged, is along the cylinder axis of element 232. The length ofcylinder 232 can be short as shown here, and slid to one of twopositions for use (as described for FIG. 1C), or made much longer to beused in a single position for both the tip-forcing function and thelifting function, as described for FIG. 1E.

FIG. 4 is a side-view diagram of a cylindrical carpet-odor-treatmentdevice combination force-delivery and lifting element 233—itsdescription continues below.

FIG. 5 is a top-view diagram of a cylindrical carpet-odor-treatmentdevice combination force-delivery and lifting element 233. In someembodiments, combination force-delivery and lifting element 233 includesa flat face for receiving impacts for the tip-forcing function, and twofinger-fitting side wings configured to allow the user to have a largerfinger-gripping area than is available with device 120 of FIG. 1C.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a method for using device 103 to treat acarpet with an odor-neutralizing fluid. In some embodiments, at block605, pointed penetration tip 115 is used to insert device 103 into thecarpet (in some embodiments, device 103 is hammered into the carpet byplacing lug 120 near the bend in tube 135 and striking lug 120). In someembodiments, at block 610, lug 120 is moved to lip 116 of device 103 anddevice 103 is lifted such that a “dome” of carpet is lifted off of thecarpet padding located underneath the carpet (in some embodiments, thecarpet “dome” increases the coverage area of the fluid injected viadevice 103). In some embodiments, at block 615, odor-neutralizing fluidis inserted into device 103 at the end of device 103 near lip 116 byplacing the tip of an applicator bottle 109 into the hollow portion oftube 135 and squeezing the applicator bottle such that fluid in theapplicator bottle is passed through tube 135 and injected (via holes110) into the area underneath the carpet “dome”. In some embodiments, atblock 620, device 103 is removed from the carpet.

FIG. 7A is a side-view photograph of an open-ended steel tube 751 beforefurther processing according to some embodiments of the presentinvention. In some embodiments, tube 751 has an outer diameter of about3/16 inch. In some embodiments, tube 751 has an outer diameter of about¼ inch. In some embodiments, tube 751 has an outer diameter of betweenabout 3/16 inch and about ¼ inch. In other embodiments, devices andcomponents having other suitable dimensions are used.

FIG. 7B is a side-view photograph of an open-ended steel tube 752 aftera flare has been formed at the right-hand end.

FIG. 7C is an end-view photograph of a wooden ball 753 (e.g., used aslug 120 of FIG. 1C) having a through-hole that has been drilled througha polished spherical-shaped piece of wood approximately 25 mm (about 1inch) in diameter.

FIG. 7D is an end-view photograph of open-ended steel tube 754 after aflare has been formed at the right-hand end, a wooden ball 753 having athrough-hole fitted over the tube 754, and a rounded bend of about 90degrees formed near the left-hand end. Ball 753 is thus trapped betweenthe flared end and the 90-degree bend.

FIG. 7E is an end-perspective-view drawing of the left-hand end of steeltube 754.

FIG. 7F is an end-perspective-view drawing of the left-hand end of steeltube 755 after being partially flattened with a taper (e.g., hammered toflatten the center walls so they are flat against one another, leaving asmall opening on either side that can be opened by the next grindingoperation below).

FIG. 7G is an end-perspective-view drawing of the left-hand end of steeltube 756 after being partially flattened with a taper, and then groundor sanded to a point, which results in two angled openings 119 that emitfluid at about a 30-degree angle to one another forward and to the sideof pointed tip 115. These openings shoot fluid in an outward radialdirection from the hole formed in the carpet.

FIG. 7H is an end-perspective-view drawing of the left-hand end of steeltube 757 after being partially flattened with a taper, then ground orsanded to a point, and two transverse drill holes 110 drilled throughthe top and bottom walls, and through the left- and right-hand walls(forming four side-wall holes 110 in addition to the two end holes 119).These six holes provide a wide spray area. In some embodiments,additional holes can be drilled or punched into the tubing, or otherspray formations are formed.

FIG. 7I1 is a side-perspective-view drawing of the injection end ofcompleted steel-tube carpet-odor-treatment device 706 after beingpartially flattened with a taper, and then ground or sanded to a point,which results in two angled openings 119 that emit fluid at about a30-degree angle to one another forward and to the side of pointed tip115 and four side-wall holes 110 (pointing up, down, left and right)with wooden ball 753 positioned to apply force in a left-to-right-handdirection to insert the tip through the carpet.

FIG. 7I2 is a side-perspective-view drawing of the injection end ofcompleted steel-tube carpet-odor-treatment device 706 with wooden ball753 positioned to apply lifting force in an upward direction to raisethe carpet so fluid can be dispensed below the carpet.

FIG. 7I3 is an enlarged side-perspective-view drawing of the injectionend of completed steel-tube carpet-odor-treatment device 706 showing oneof two angled openings 119 and two of the four side-wall holes 110(pointing up and left).

FIG. 7J is a photograph of the injection end of completed steel-tubecarpet-odor-treatment device 706 showing the six streams of fluid—twosquirting out at about a 30-degree angle to one another forward from thetip and four side streams (pointing up, down, left and right).

FIG. 8A is a drawing of a first operation (or step 1) 800A of a method800 according to some embodiments of the invention. In this firstoperation (or step 1), one hand holds the shaft of the Injectinator™vertical with the flare end facing up (will be in this position theentire time), allowing the lug to fall down the shaft (lug will be usedto tap the Injectinator™ into the carpet and through the backing withthe other hand). The dimensions shown represent only one embodiment;other embodiments use other suitable dimensions.

FIG. 8B is a drawing of a second operation (or step 2) 800B of method800 according to some embodiments of the invention. In this secondoperation (or step 2), tapping on the lug adjusts the tip of theInjectinator™ through the carpet and carpet backing.

FIG. 8C is a drawing of a third operation (or step 3) 800C of method 800according to some embodiments of the invention. In this third operation(or step 3), the “lower arm” of the approximately “L”-shapedInjectinator™ (including the Injectinator™ tip) is under the carpet,between the carpet backing and carpet pad.

FIG. 8D is a drawing of a fourth operation (or step 4) 800D of method800 according to some embodiments of the invention. In this fourthoperation (or step 4), the sliding lug is lifted up, thus “doming out”the carpet, making room between the carpet backing and carpet pad soodor neutralizer can be easily distributed to the affected area.

FIG. 8E is a drawing of a fifth operation (or step 5) 800E of method 800according to some embodiments of the invention. In this fifth operation(or step 5), the lug of the Injectinator™ is lifted with one hand (thiswill “dome” the carpet), and the other hand squeezes odor neutralizerfrom applicator bottle 809 of odor-neutralizing fluid into the flaredend of tool, distributing fluid through the tool to the affected areabetween the backing of the carpet and the carpet pad. The Injectinator™tool is then pulled out of the carpet, and the carpet surface may beblotted.

In some embodiments, the present invention provides a carpet-treatmentapparatus that includes a hollow tube having a first end and a secondend; a fluid-receiving orifice located at the first end of the tube; aplurality of injection holes located near the second end of the tube; apointed tip located at the second end of the tube, and configured forinsertion through the carpet from an upper face of the carpet until theplurality of injection holes are located under a lower face of thecarpet; and a lug having an opening therethrough, wherein the tubepasses through the opening in the lug and is configured to increase thesurface area of the tube.

Some embodiments of the apparatus further include a squeeze bottlehaving a fluid-ejection nozzle shaped to be at least partially insertedinto the fluid-receiving orifice located at the first end of the tube,in order to force fluid into and through the tube and out the pluralityof injection holes located under the carpet.

In some embodiments of the apparatus, a first length of the tube at thefirst end is substantially perpendicular to a second length of the tubeat the second end, and wherein the lug slides along the first length andis shaped to be grabbed by a user and pulled vertically upward from thefirst end of the tube to lift the carpet after the second end isinserted through the carpet and the second length is substantiallyhorizontal under the carpet.

In some embodiments of the apparatus, the lug is configured to beslidably movable along the first length of the tube such that the lug ispositioned closer to the second end for the insertion through the carpetfrom an upper face of the carpet until the plurality of injection holesare located under a lower face of the carpet, and then moved closer tothe first end of the tube to lift the carpet after the second end isinserted through the carpet and the second length is substantiallyhorizontal under the carpet.

In some embodiments of the apparatus, the lug has a surface configuredto be hammered on by another object to force the pointed tip through thecarpet.

In some embodiments of the apparatus, lug has a cylindrically shaped endwith a substantially flattened face for receiving hammer blows.

Some embodiments of the apparatus further include a squeeze bottlehaving a fluid-ejection nozzle shaped to be at least partially insertedinto the fluid-receiving orifice located at the first end of the tube.

In some embodiments, the present invention provides a method fortreating carpet that includes providing a hollow tube having a first endand a second end, wherein the tube includes: a plurality of injectionholes located near the second end of the tube, a fluid-receiving orificelocated at the first end of the tube, a pointed tip located at thesecond end of the tube, and a lug moveably attached to the tube;inserting the tube into a carpet by penetrating the pointed tip throughthe carpet; lifting the tube up via the lug such that a portion of thecarpet is pulled away from padding located underneath the carpet;receiving fluid into the tube at the first end of the tube; andinjecting the fluid under the carpet via the injection holes.

In some embodiments of the method, a first length of the tube at thefirst end is substantially perpendicular to a second length of the tubeat the second end, the method further including: sliding the lug alongthe first length away from the first end before penetrating the pointedtip through the carpet; and grabbing the lug by a user and pullingvertically upward from the first end of the tube to lift the carpetafter penetrating the pointed tip through the carpet and after locatingthe second length substantially horizontal under the carpet.

In some embodiments of the method, the lug is configured to be slidablymovable along the first length of the tube such that the lug ispositioned closer to the second end for the insertion through the carpetfrom an upper face of the carpet until the plurality of injection holesare located under a lower face of the carpet, and then moved closer tothe first end of the tube to lift the carpet after the second end isinserted through the carpet and the second length is substantiallyhorizontal under the carpet.

Some embodiments of the method further include hammering on a surface ofthe lug by another object to force the pointed tip through the carpet.

In some embodiments of the method, lug has a cylindrically shaped endwith a substantially flattened face for receiving hammer blows.

Some embodiments of the method further include forcing fluid from asqueeze bottle having a fluid-ejection nozzle into the fluid-receivingorifice located at the first end of the tube.

Some embodiments of the method further include forcing fluid from asqueeze bottle having a fluid-ejection nozzle into the fluid-receivingorifice located at the first end of the tube, in order to force fluidinto and through the tube and out the plurality of injection holeslocated under the carpet.

In some embodiments, the present invention provides a carpet-treatmentdevice that includes tube means for transporting fluid into a carpet,wherein the tube means includes: means for inserting the tube meansthrough the carpet; and means for lifting the tube means up such that aportion of the carpet is pulled away from padding located underneath thecarpet.

In some embodiments of the device, a first length of the tube means at afirst end is substantially perpendicular to a second length of the tubemeans at a second end, and wherein the means for lifting includes a lugthat slides along the first length and is shaped to be grabbed by a userand pulled vertically upward from the first end of the tube to lift thecarpet after the second end is inserted through the carpet and thesecond length is substantially horizontal under the carpet.

In some embodiments of the device, the lug is configured to be slidablymovable along the first length of the tube such that the lug ispositioned closer to the second end for the insertion through the carpetfrom an upper face of the carpet until the plurality of injection holesare located under a lower face of the carpet, and then moved closer tothe first end of the tube to lift the carpet after the second end isinserted through the carpet and the second length is substantiallyhorizontal under the carpet.

In some embodiments of the device, the lug has a surface configured tobe hammered on by another object to force the pointed tip through thecarpet.

In some embodiments of the device, lug has a cylindrically shaped endwith a substantially flattened face for receiving hammer blows.

Some embodiments of the device further include means for forcing fluid afluid-receiving orifice located at the first end of the tube means, inorder to force fluid into and through the tube means and out a pluralityof injection holes in the tube means located under the carpet.

It is specifically contemplated that the present invention includesembodiments having combinations and subcombinations of the variousembodiments and features that are individually described herein (i.e.,rather than listing every combinatorial of the elements, thisspecification includes descriptions of representative embodiments andcontemplates embodiments that include some of the features from oneembodiment combined with some of the features of another embodiment).Further, some embodiments include fewer than all the componentsdescribed as part of any one of the embodiments described herein.

It is to be understood that the above description is intended to beillustrative, and not restrictive. Although numerous characteristics andadvantages of various embodiments as described herein have been setforth in the foregoing description, together with details of thestructure and function of various embodiments, many other embodimentsand changes to details will be apparent to those of skill in the artupon reviewing the above description. The scope of the invention shouldbe, therefore, determined with reference to the appended claims, alongwith the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled. Inthe appended claims, the terms “including” and “in which” are used asthe plain-English equivalents of the respective terms “comprising” and“wherein,” respectively. Moreover, the terms “first,” “second,” etc.,are used merely as labels, and are not intended to impose numericalrequirements on their objects.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for treating carpet comprising:providing a hollow tube having a first end and a second end, wherein thetube includes: a plurality of injection holes located near the secondend of the tube, a fluid-receiving orifice located at the first end ofthe tube; a pointed tip located at the second end of the tube, and a lugmoveably attached to the tube; inserting the tube into a carpet bypenetrating the pointed tip through the carpet; lifting the tube up viathe lug such that a portion of the carpet is pulled away from paddinglocated underneath the carpet; receiving fluid into the tube at thefirst end of the tube; and injecting the fluid under the carpet via theinjection holes.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein a first length of thetube at the first end is substantially perpendicular to a second lengthof the tube at the second end, the method further including: sliding thelug along the first length away from the first end before penetratingthe pointed tip through the carpet; and grabbing the lug by a user andpulling vertically upward from the first end of the tube to lift thecarpet after penetrating the pointed tip through the carpet and afterlocating the second length substantially horizontal under the carpet. 3.The method of claim 2, wherein the lug is configured to be slidablymovable along the first length of the tube such that the lug ispositioned closer to the second end for the insertion through the carpetfrom an upper face of the carpet until the plurality of injection holesare located under a lower face of the carpet, and then moved closer tothe first end of the tube to lift the carpet after the second end isinserted through the carpet and the second length is substantiallyhorizontal under the carpet.
 4. The method of claim 3, furthercomprising hammering on a surface of the lug by another object to forcethe pointed tip through the carpet.
 5. The method of claim 4, whereinlug has a cylindrically shaped end with a substantially flattened facefor receiving hammer blows.
 6. The method of claim 5, further comprisingforcing fluid from a squeeze bottle having a fluid-ejection nozzle intothe fluid-receiving orifice located at the first end of the tube.
 7. Themethod of claim 1, further comprising forcing fluid from a squeezebottle having a fluid-ejection nozzle into the fluid-receiving orificelocated at the first end of the tube, in order to force fluid into andthrough the tube and out the plurality of injection holes located underthe carpet.